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PROGRAM 

HOME COMING 




LINCOLN ^«D0UGIAS 

SEMI-CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION 

JIlton, Illinois 



"For we doubt, not through the ages one increasing purpose runs. 
And the thoughts of men are widened with the process of the suns. 



HOME-COMING 

A X D 

SEMI-CENTENNIAL 

OF 

LINCOLN-DOUGLAS DEBATE. 

1858-1908. 





CITY HALL. 

T^HE City Hall was erected in 1858. The above cut is a 
^ correct representation of the building at that time. The 
debate between Lincoln and Douglas, Oct. 15, 1858, took place at 
the northeast corner of this building, corner of Second and 
Market streets, where a platform had been erected. 



U) S:!r .^ V 



(©iriM^ftjr 15, 1908 



ALTON celebrates today the semi-centennial anniversary of the seventh 
and closing debate of the series of discussions between the two intel- 
lectual giants of the West, Lincoln and Douglas. It ranks as the greatest 
political debate in the history of the country. The question of the exten- 
sion of slavery into national territory was practically settled by that debate, 
but the nation must pass through a baptism of fire and blood before the 
final extinction of the institution of slavery. 

We meet today in peace and harmony, after fifty years of wonderful 
national development, and a prosperity that has made this land the richest 
the sun shines on. It is a land where freedom sits enthroned, where 
justice reigns, and equal rights to all are accorded under the law. 

Our city within that period of fifty years has grown from 7,000 to 
20,000 inhabitants. It is a modern city, with every appointment of pro- 
gress enjoyed by a great metropolis. 

We give the hand of welcome today to all who join with us in cele- 
brating the anniversary of an event which crowned an epoch of high en- 
deavor. Our cordial greetings go out to all our guests from near and far 
who join with us in this commemoration. And may we all dedicate our- 
selves to perpetuating the heritage of liberty transmitted to us by our 
fathers. 

OCTOBER 15, 1858. 

THE weather on the day of the debate was threatening in the morning 
but pleasant in the afternoon, a typical Indian summer day. Lincoln 
and Douglas, who were rival candidates for the Senate, arrived from Quincy 
by steamer about daylight, and both took breakfast at the Alton House, on 
Front street. After breakfast a committee of Republicans escorted Lincoln 
to the Franklin House, where he received his friends. Douglas held a 
reception at the same time at the Alton House. 

The city was gayly decorated with flags and bunting and the banners 
of the two rival candidates. Many significant mottoes were displayed 
on the flags and banners. 

The city was thronged with visitors, many delegations arriving on 
special trains on the railroads and by steamers from St. Louis. The 
delegation from the State Capital was escorted by the Springfield Cadets, 
a fine military company, and Merritt's Band. This delegation included 
many State oflicials. 

The [speakers' platform was erected at the northeast corner of the 
City Hall, Second and Market streets. It was decorated with the national 
colors, but no partisan mottoes were permitted thereon. 

Messrs. C. Stegleman and W. T. Miller were the committee to erect 
platform; B. F. Barry and Wm. Post to superintend music and salutes; 
Hon. H. G. McPike and Dr. W. C. Quigley in charge of platform. 




FRANKLIN HOUSE. 

THIS hotel, which is still standing, was the headquarters of 
Mr. Lincoln, and here he held a reception prior to the 
debate. It is located on State street, opposite Third, and is now 
known as the Lincoln Hotel. Its exterior appearance is the 
same now as then. The late Samuel Pitts, Sr., was the pro- 
prietor at that time. 



By agreement of the two parties the reception of the two speakers was 
without parades or partisan demonstration, but the various delegations 
paraded the streets cheering enthusiastically for the two champions, now 
for Lincoln and then for Douglas. 

At two o'clock when the debate opened a crowd of some 5000 or 6000 
surrounded the platform. Judge H. W. Billings, a Douglas Democrat, 
presided, by agreement of the two parties, and introduced the speakers. 

Senator Douglas spoke first and was received with loud applause. His 
voice was shattered by much out-door speaking and he was heard with 

much difficulty. , , , , , at t • , 

After Senator Douglas had spoken an hour Mr. Lincoln was intro- 
duced and spoke an hour and a half. He received a tumultuous greeting. 
Douglas made a half hour reioinder and tlie debate closed, both 
narties claiming that their champion had won. The speeches were 
Hstened to with close attention and the telling points heartily cheered 
Political meetings addressed by noted speakers were he d by both 
parties that evening"^ as well as the evening beiore and drew large 
audiences. 







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ALTON HOUSE. 

THE above is a correct representation of the Alton House 
where Senator Douglas had his headquarters and received 
his friends on the day of the debate. Mr. H. S. Mathews, who 
is still living in Alton, was the proprietor. The building was a 
famous hostelry in its time. It stood on the corner of Front 
and Alby streets, facing the river. It was destroyed by fire 
soon after the war. 

Many newspaper men were present from abroad to report the debate. 
Among them were correspondents of the St. Louis Republican, St. Louis 
Evening News, the Boston Traveler, the New York Evening Post, 
Chicago Times, Hon. Geo. T. Brown of the Alton Courier and Jno. Fitch 
of the Alton National Democrat. Also Robt. R. Hitt and Horace White 
of the Chicago Tribune, both of whom became distinguished national 
figures. [Mr. White is with us today]. 

The noted men in attendance were many. Among them were 
ex-U.S. Senator David J. Baker and U.S. Senator Lyman Trumbull, both 
of Alton, ex-Gov. John Reynolds of Belleville, and ex-Gov. J. A. Mattison 
of Springfield, Hon. Cyrus Edwards of Upper Alton. Gen'l Curran, Hon. 
O. M. Hatch and Hon. Jas. Miller of Springfield, Hon. Jno. M. Palmer 
of Carlinville, Hon. J. O. Norton of Joliet, and many others. 

Of the great leaders present that day in Alton four became aspirants 
for the Presidency — Lincoln and Douglas in 1860, Trumbull in the Liberal 
convention of 1872, and Gen. Palmer in 1896. Truly, great statesmen on 
that day walked these streets and held high converse with our people. 



^rogr^tnt. 



WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 1908. 
Home-Coming Day. 

Band Concert. 

Reception by Benevolent, Fraternal and Religious organizations. 



THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15. 
Lincoln-Douglas Day. 

Morning— Parade. 10:00 o'clock. 

AlE\fORiAL Tarlet Exercisrs AT CfTV Hall : 

ATusic. 

Invocation. 

Presentation of Tablet by Rev. A. A. Tanner. 

Unveiling of Tablet by John Drummond Bowman. 

Acceptance of Tablet by Honorable Mayor Edmund Beaii. 
Afternoon, 2 o'clock. — 

Addresses at Air Dome as follows : 

''Lincoln and Douglas" — Hon. J. McCann Davis. 

"Popular Sovereignty" — Hon. Stephen A. Douglas, Jr. 

"Lincoln"— Hon. Clark E. Carr. 

"Douglas" — Hon. Adlai E. Stevenson. 
Evening— Merchants' Parade ; Fireworks. 



FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16. 
Old Settlers' Day. 

iMorning and Afternoon —Old Settlers' Meeting at Air Dome. 

Hon. H. G. McPike, Chairman. Five minute speeches by 
Old Settlers. 
Evening— Illuminated River Parade, and Fireworks. 



SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17. 
National Political Day. 

Addresses at Air Dome. 

republican speakers : 
Governor Augustus E. Willson of Kentucky. 
Hon. Seth Low, former Mayor of New York City. 
democratic speakers: 
• Ex-Gov. D. R. Francis of Missouri. 
Hon. Ignatius Dunn, Lincoln, Neb. 
Congressman Henry T. Rainey of Illinois. 



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LOVEJOY MONUMENT. 

NO visitor to Alton should fail to visit the Lovejoy Monu- 
ment in the City Cemetery. This stately and beautiful 
memorial to the pioneer anti-slavery champion whose tragic 
death, in this city, Nov, 7, 1837, was the prelude to the irre- 
pressible conflict between freedom and slavery, was erected in 
1896 by the State of Illinois and citizens of Alton, at a cost of 
$30,000. Lincoln and Lovejoy are names inseparably linked in 
history, and we celebrate today their conflict and their victory. 



LINCOLN-DOUGLAS COMMEMORATION. 



H. G. McPlKE, President. 

Vice-Presidents. 

J. H. Yager. Fuller T. Rodgers. 

E. P. Wade, J. L. Blair. 

J. A. Cousley. L. Pfeiffenberger, 

J. J. Brenholt. Sam'l Wyss, 

W. A. Haskell. T. H. Perrin. 

J. J. McINERNEY, Secretary. 

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. 

E. M. Bowman, Chairman. J. F. McGinnis, 

Jacob Wead, Secretary, Jos. Faulstich, 

H. B. Sparks, E. M. Dorsey. 

COMMITTEE ON SPEAKERS. 

H. Tonsor. Chairman, \\ . T. Norton, 

Dr. G. Taphorn, H. S. Baker. 

FINANCE. 
L. J. Ilartmann. 
PROGRAM. 
L. Hellrung, 

PARADE. 
\V. Weisbach, 
VER PARADE COMMITTEE. 
Capt. B. B. Harris, 
Capt. Henry Winter, 
Capt. H. R. Combs, St. Louis. 
DECORATION. 
W. H. Neermann, Herman Reck, 

MUSIC. 
John F. Busse, J. W. Schmoeller, Jr., 

PUBLICITY AND AMUSEMENT 
Wm. Sauvage, Wm. Netzhammer, 



J. Elble, 

P. W. Coyle, 

Col. A. M. Jackson, 

Capt. C. F. Sparks, 
Capt. Eugene Webb 



E. G. [Meriwether. 

H. A. Wutzler. 

C. E. Freeman. 

Capt. W. D. Fluent. 
Capt. H. L. Black. 



H. J. Bowman. 



W. D. Armstrong. 



J. B. Steck. 



Edmund Beall, Chn.. 

Geo. T. Davis, 

Chas. M. Yager, 

Orland Hemphill, 

Dennis Noonan, 

Max Trube, 

Harry Chaffer, 

James Chessen, 

Geo. Burton, 

Aug. Neermann, 

Wm. Beiser, 

Fred Volbracht. 

Henry Calame, 

Jas. H. Aldous, 

Capt. H. Brueggemann, 

Harvey Black, 



RECEPTION COMMITTEE. 

Aug. Barth, 

Jno H. Booth, 

W. H. Bauer, 

J. H. Bauman, 

W. A. Bode, 

Jos. Broderick. 

S. B. Baker, 

M. H. Boals. 

C. A. Caldwell, 

J. T. Corbett, 

G. Frank Crowe, 

Rev. H. M. Chittenden, 

H. W. Chamberlain, 

J. W. Gary, 

Robt. Curdie, 

B. H. Coyle. 



Dr. Chas. Davis, 
Levi Davis, 
J. E. Dunnegan, 
H. S. Dorsey, 
J. N. Drummond, 
Geo. Dickson, 
Wm. Duncan. 
Walter Day, 
A. L. Daniels. 
Richard Eck, 
Wm. Fries, 
T. L. Foulds, 
R. M. Forbes, 
Roy Goulding, 
Herbert Giberson. 
Thos. Gallagher, 



rec 

Chas. Huskinson, 
Geo. Huskinson, 
Geo. D. Hayden, 
John Haskell. 
Capt. G. \V. Hill, 
Rev. R. P. Hammons, 
J. J. Hammond, 
Jos. Hermann, 
A. J. Howell, 
Geo. E. Hopkins, 
Chas. Holden, 
C. F. Hewitt, 
A. W. Hope. 
Geo. R. Hewitt, 
Prof. R. A. Haight, 
Jos. E. Holl, 
\V. F. Hoppe, 
Fred Immenga, 
Wm. Joesting, 
Harry Jenkins, 
H. K. Johnston, 
C. J. Jacoby, 
I. H. Kelley. 
Geo. Kirsch, 
Henry Kopp, 
John Kremer. 
Allen Keiser, 
Capt. Henry Leyhe, 
Capt. VVm. Leyhe, 
G. H. Lane, 
Geo. Levis, 
Harry Levis, 



EPTION COMMITTEE. 

Fred Lehiit, 
Aug. Luer, 
Dr. Harry Lemen, 
P. Lafferty, 
Harry Lessner, 
John Lock, 
\V. T. Louden, 
Geo. Marsh, 
Henry Meyer. 
A. R. McKinney. 
Harry Mackinaw, 
Cornelius McHenry, 
John Mangan, 
J..\'. E. Marsh, 
.S. R. McClure. 
J. B. Marquis. 
' O. C. Macey, 
Cieo. Z. Miller, 
U. S. Nixon. 
W. C. Norman, 
Wm. Netzhammer, 
F. W. Olin, 
Samuel Pitts, 
Henry Penning, 
E. C. Paul. 
P. H. Paul, 
Rev. Dr. Riggs, 
J. M. Ryrie, 
Geo. M. Ryrie, 
J. S. Roper. 
A. R. Robinson, 
C. B. Rohland, 



■Cnntiuiifd. 

Harvey Rumscy, 
Frank J. Rue, 
J. F. Randall, 
Prof. B. C. Richardson, 
George Rose, 
E. A. Smith, 
O. S. Stowell, 
Louis Schlafly, 
H. M. Schweppe. 
\V. M. Sternberg, 
Wm. Sweetzer, 
R. F. Seely. 
Dr. J. N. Schaff. 
Rev. E. L. Spalding, 
Chas. Seibold, 
Geo. H. Smiley, 
John Sutter, 
W. E. Smith. 
Wm. Sonntag, 
Henry Tonsor, 
Rev. M. W. Tvving, 
G. E. Wilkinson, 
Dr. Frank Worden, 
T. A. Taj lor. 
Louis Walters. 
Henry L. Winter. 
N'incent W'ardein. 
Albert Wade, 
C. A. Wuerker, 
Dave Wyckoff. 
Minor S. Watson, 
Dr. T. P. Yerkes. 



Woman's Rest Room— Council Chamber, City Hall. 
Bureau of Information— A. J. & P. Ry. Office, Third and Belle. 



Points of Interest. 

Shurtleff College (oldest in the West), Monticello Seminary, Western 

Military Academy, Lovejoy Monument, Lovers' Leap, Art 

Exhibit at Wiseman's Studio, Second and George Sts. 

Alton has the largest hollow-ware glass factory in the world, with 
3,500 employes. The works cover fifty acres. 

Alton has ten miles of electric railway and twenty miles of brick paved 
streets within the city limits. 

Alton mills produce 4,500 barrels of flour per day. 



MCLLING A. GASKINS 
PBINTINQ CO., ALTON. 



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